Scalene Blu-ray Review

"Scalene" is presented on Blu-ray by Breaking Glass Films with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in a 2.33:1 aspect ratio. This digitally shot feature offers a strong high-definition presentation, showcasing accurate colors, generally consistent contrast, and excellent fine object detail, particularly in the film’s numerous extreme close-ups. Scenes such as Janice walking up to Paige's house exude impressive detail, from the textured rusty red brickwork to the lush surrounding greenery, all depicted with rich colors and clearly defined edges.

However, this release is marred by several technical issues. The film suffers from severe banding problems, particularly noticeable in scenes where light cuts through darker areas, resulting in poorly meshed color gradients. These issues become prominently evident during Jakob's perspective sections of the movie. Additionally, compression artifacts like jaggies and micro-blocking are apparent in the undefined black areas, which appear flat and lack depth. Despite some daylight scenes bordering on visual brilliance, the presence of these deficiencies detracts significantly from the overall viewing experience.

Scalene's audio presentation comprises two lossy formats: Dolby Digital 5.1 and Dolby Digital 2.0. While these options are generally adequate, delivering dialogue and score with a nod to classics like Vertigo, they don't provide the level of fidelity found in more contemporary releases. Despite the film exhibiting a surprising dynamic range, the Dolby Digital 5.1 mix fails to consistently engage listeners and occasionally struggles with clarity in key scenes.

A significant issue lies in the dialogue reproduction. There are instances of loud and clear dialogue readily understandable, but others where it becomes indistinct and muffled. A particular scene, set in a restaurant, highlights the deficiency, with voices resonating hollowly. Furthermore, the surround channels remain underutilized, making the mix feel unbalanced and, at times, brash rather than clear. For an audio track that misses opportunities to leverage more intricate sound effects or ambient noises, the result is a lackluster and uneven listening experience.

These paragraphs focus on maintaining a professional and technical tone while addressing the key attributes and deficiencies of the audio mix. I included essential technical details and adhered to the constructive critique present in the reviews you provided. If you need more focus on specifics like sound effects usage or other content, please let me know.

The Blu-ray extras for "Scalene" offer a broad range of insights, from behind-the-scenes content to festival highlights. The comprehensive making-of documentary, "Perceiving Reality: The Making of Scalene," clocks in at over three hours, which can be overwhelming but richly details the film's production process. The "Featurette From Dances With Films" offers an immersive look into the film's world premiere and subsequent Q&A with insightful subtitles clarifying audience questions. Additionally, the extras include a concise photo gallery, along with both teaser and theatrical trailers in varied resolutions, providing a holistic view of the promotional material.

Extras included in this disc:

• Perceiving Reality: The Making of Scalene: In-depth documentary on the film’s production.
• Featurette From Dances With Films: World Premiere, Q&A, and Awards Ceremony.
• Photo Gallery: Collection of stills from the film.
• Teaser Trailer: Early promotional trailer.
• Theatrical Trailer: Full-length official trailer.

"Scalene" ambitiously intertwines the narrative structures of Rashomon and Memento, presenting a psychological thriller from three distinct points of view: Janice (Margo Martindale), her brain-damaged son Jakob (Adam Scarimbolo), and his caretaker Paige (Hanna Hall). Martindale delivers a compelling performance as a beleaguered mother coping with rage and despair. Hall's portrayal as the caretaker further deepens the character dynamics, especially as we uncover the alarming events leading to the film’s tense opening scene where Janice and Paige are grappling for survival. Each character's perspective sheds light on their motives, though the unconventional storytelling stretches credulity at times, particularly with Paige's seemingly noble yet implausible attempts to aid Jakob.

The film’s insistence on its narrative gimmick becomes overbearing, detracting from the plot's coherence. The name "Scalene," referring to unequal angles and sides of a triangle, along with color-coded elements in the opening credits, emphasizes the story's triadic viewpoint excessively, distracting from the substance. The climax unfortunately undercuts the preceding tension, unraveling into illogical territory that diminishes the narrative impact. It's as if director Zack Parker and co-writer Brandon Owens, in their quest for an innovative twist, sever the storyline's credibility entirely, resulting in an ending that feels both deflating and perplexing.

Despite its narrative flaws, Margo Martindale’s robust performance anchors "Scalene," showcasing her range from desperation to unrestrained fury. The film attempts to explore heavy themes through its fractured storytelling but falters in execution, leaving the audience questioning rather than captivated by its final revelations.

"Scalene" aims to be a riveting psychological thriller but ultimately falters due to an ill-conceived narrative structure. The film's core conceit, specifically the backwards time flow of Janice's story, adds confusion rather than clarity. While its non-linear storytelling tries to bring depth, it only serves to highlight the film’s unevenness and detracts from its overall coherence. The performances by the actors are commendable and emerge as the most effective aspect of the film, but they are not enough to salvage a script that struggles with internal logic.

Technically, the Blu-ray presentation of "Scalene" is disappointing. The video quality is inconsistent, with several scenes marred by a lack of clarity and poor color grading. This diminishes the viewing experience considerably, making it hard to become engrossed in the already convoluted plot. Audio fares no better, with subpar mixing that often leaves dialogue indistinct and overshadowed by the background score.

In conclusion, while "Scalene" harbors commendable ambition and strong performances, it ultimately falls short due to its misguided narrative choices and technical flaws. Its uneven execution renders it a missed opportunity, making it challenging to recommend outside of those deeply interested in indie film production.